Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RELEASABLE VACUUM HOLDING DEVICE
The invention relates to a releasable vacuum holding device for attaching
objects to a contact surface with a vacuum chamber, which is open towards
the contact surface and in which, after application to the contact surface by
means of a suction device generating a vacuum, a vacuum can be generated.
A redetachable holding device operating with a vacuum is known from WO
01/20177 Al. This holding device possesses a holding body that can be
airtightly applied to a gas-impermeable contact surface by means of a seal
made of elastic material and to which devices for various different carrying
functions can be fitted. The holding body features a vacuum chamber open
towards the contact surface with an elastic seal towards the contact surface
and towards the vacuum chamber a valve, via which a vacuum can be
generated by means of a suction device in the vacuum chamber when the
holding body is applied to the contact surface. The holding device is capable
of securing by means of the carrying functions bathroom accessories for
example such as soap dishes or suspension hooks to tiled walls. After
opening the valve, the holding device can be removed again.
The purpose of the invention is to create a detachable holding device for
application to walls that features an improved seal, which makes for better
contact between the holding body and the contact surface, is more gas-tight
and also allows application to rough surfaces.
The problem at hand is solved according to the invention as described herein.
Advantageous embodiments are described below.
The vacuum holding device for attaching objects to an essentially gas-tight
contact surface (8) features:
- a holding body that forms a vacuum chamber, wherein a vacuum can be
generated in the vacuum chamber following application to the contact
surface and the holding body features a press-on web with a web front
edge encircling the vacuum chamber, wherein the web front edge is
oriented towards the contact surface (8),
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23
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- at least one seal that seals the vacuum chamber towards the exterior in a
gas-
tight manner against the contact surface.
- at least one opening as the end of a connection between the vacuum chamber
and the external environment having at least one valve that ensures gas-tight
opening and closing of the connection between the vacuum chamber and the
external environment, wherein
- the holding body with the press-on web, during formation of a vacuum in
the
vacuum chamber, presses on the contact surface by means of the seal pro-
towards the contact surface,
- the seal features one or several U profiles, wherein two limbs and a foot
surface
linking the limbs forms a U profile and the limbs at least partially
bilaterally en-
compass the respective press-on web of the holding body and the foot surface
spans the at least one web front edge of the press-on web, wherein the at
least
one web front edge has a sealing effect on the foot surface of the seal under
a
vacuum in the direction of the contact surface.
The vacuum holding device furthermore preferably features:
- Media for establishing a detachable, essentially gas-tight coupling from
the up-
wards oriented opening with a suction device for generating a vacuum.
Securing the vacuum holding device by means of a device for generating a vac-
uum on a contact surface comprises the following stages:
- applying the vacuum holding device to the contact surface,
- establishment of a detachable, essentially gas-tight coupling from the
outwards
oriented opening of the vacuum holding device with a device for generating a
vacuum, e.g. a piston suction tube,
- generation of a vacuum in the vacuum chamber, e.g. by withdrawing the
suction
piston from the piston suction tube until the suction piston passes a top
opening
and removal of the device for generating a vacuum or pumping using a vacuum
pump instead of the piston suction tube.
The detachable holding device features a seal which is U-shaped in profile,
the
limbs of which engage over the encircling press-on web of the holding body and
the foot surface of the seal is applicable to the contact surface for
formation of a
vacuum chamber.
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The contact surface is for example a wall surface. When the holding device
rests
on the contact surface and vacuum is formed in the vacuum chamber, the seal is
achieved in that the front edge of the press-on web, presses under the
influence of
the vacuum into the foot surface of the seal on to the contact surface. This
guaran-
tees by simple means a seal on the contact surface.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided
that the
holding body furthermore has towards the periphery a further downwards project-
ing, encircling, e.g. annular web, known for short as the peripheral web. The
pe-
ripheral web encircles the press-on web. Preferably, the peripheral web and
press-
on web are oriented towards the contact surface with a uniform distance,
forming a
groove, preferably approximately perpendicularly (e.g. 90' +/- 10 ). The press-
on
web circulates towards the vacuum chamber and the peripheral web towards the
external outline of the holding body where the plate rim (10) is located_ The
pe-
ripheral web conceals the seal at least partially, thereby serving as a visual
cover.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the
holding
body has in addition to the press-on web a further downwards projecting, encir-
cling, e.g. annular web, known for short below as the chamber web. The chamber
web encircles the press-on web towards the interior of the chamber.
Preferably,
the peripheral web and chamber web are oriented towards the contact surface
with a uniform distance, forming a groove, preferably approximately perpendicu-
larly (e.g. 90 +/- 10 ) in relation to the contact surface. The press-on web
circu-
lates towards the vacuum chamber and the peripheral web towards the external
outline of the holding body.
Between the peripheral web and the press-on web (if present) and the press-on
web and the chamber web (if present), an encircling groove is formed in which
the
limbs of the seal which is U-shaped in profile engage, wherein the foot
surface of
the seal for formation of the vacuum chamber and the seal between the web
front
edge of the press-on web and contact surface is firmly pressed. Preferably,
the
holding body features an encircling peripheral web, an encircling press-on web
and an encircling chamber web.
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The grooves and webs are preferably designed to be annular (round) or oval.
The press-on web preferably projects over the peripheral web (if present) and
the
chamber web (if present) in its longitudinal extension in the direction of the
contact
surface. The webs are preferably aligned in parallel or (uniformly) spaced
apart
from one another.
The press-on web preferably has a height of 2 to 10 mm respectively,
particularly
2 to 6 mm, independently of one another. The grooves are preferably between 1
and 6 mm thick, particularly 1.5 to 4 mm. The foot surface preferably has a
mate-
rial thickness of between 0.5 and 3 mm, particularly between 1.5 and 2.5 mm
when uncompressed.
The seal is preferably made of a relatively soft elastic, particularly elastic
rubber
material and displays in particular a hardness of between 10 and 70 Shore A,
par-
ticularly between 15 and 30 Shore A and particularly preferably between 15 and
Shore A. Suitable materials for the seal include synthetic rubbers and thermo-
plastic elastomers. The seal is circumferential in design and is preferably
designed
20 as a sealing ring.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the
presence of two encircling seals which are U-shaped in profile or a seal which
is
double U-shaped in profile, i.e. W-shaped for instance, the 3 or 4 limbs of
which
can be pushed into the encircling press-on webs, wherein for example two press-
on webs, a peripheral web and a chamber web or for example two press-on webs,
a peripheral web and a chamber web in addition to a further web exist between
the
press-on webs.
The U profile does not necessarily have parallel limbs. The limbs may also run
at
an angle to the foot surface. The limbs are however preferably aligned approxi-
mately parallel to one another (e.g. 180 +/- 20'). Irrespective thereof, one
or both
limbs respectively form an approximate right angle (e.g. 900 +/- 10 ) in
relation to
the foot surface and irrespective thereof, the limbs preferably press on to
the foot
surface at an interval apart from one another.
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Two seals may additionally assist in permanently maintaining the vacuum and al-
low use independently from one another of softer seals or the formation of two
separate vacuum chambers that are activated by means of a common valve or two
valves.
Preferably, it is provided that the limbs of the seal do not completely fill
the groove
between at least two webs when the seal is pushed on to the holding body and
no
contact pressure is exerted on the contact surface. An annular seal can for
exam-
when pushed into the groove, still be pushed to and fro circularly. It is only
once a contact pressure on the contact surface arises as a result of the
vacuum
that compression of the seal causes an increase in width of the seal and the
latter
fits tightly in the area of its limbs on the side walls of the peripheral
and/or cham-
ber web walls and if appropriate also on the side walls of the press-on webs,
which
are respectively inclined towards the groove.
The holding body of the vacuum holding device preferably consists of plastic,
e.g.
of an impact-proof plastic, such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or
poly-
amide and is moreover preferably designed as round or oval towards the contact
.. surface.
The connection between the vacuum chamber and the external environment is
preferably designed in the form of a dome, which however features a preferably
cone-shaped recess at the top end in the form of an outwards opening (semi-
)conical or (semi-)spherical contact surface for receiving the valve.
In order to ensure secure seating, the valve is likewise preferably designed
to be
conical, semi-conical, spherical or hemispherical in shape corresponding to
the
contact surface of the dome. The valve functions as a vacuum / sealing valve.
The
valve is preferably retained in the contact surface with the aid of elastic
means,
e.g. an elastic band or rod or a spring, which may form a single piece with
the
valve, if necessary under pretension. It is also possible to hold the valve in
place in
a valve cage.
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'
According to another embodiment, the valve is designed in the form of a lip-
shaped gap, wherein the lips converge convexly to a slot and press together
under
vacuum. In this case, the dome is preferably designed such as to provide a
hold
for the end of the elastic means.
The valve may for example be designed such that it initially tapers
spherically or
conically downwards and in so doing, extends downwards in the manner of a band
or rod. At the end of the band or rod, a resistance is located, which may be
de-
signed for example in the form of one or several, preferably two, protruding
studs,
a crossbar, a ball, a cone (etc.) or a wedge.
According to one embodiment of the invention, provision is made for equipping
the
suction device with a valve, which during a pressure-generating movement of
the
piston of the suction device, vents an overpressure in the suction tube
through
compression and decompression via the relief valve. It is therefore possible
to
create a sufficient vacuum with several suction strokes. This can be performed
for
example using a reciprocating pump. When the piston is depressed with the hold-
ing device attached, a build-up of air occurs in the suction tube. In order to
avoid
this, any overpressure escapes through the relief valve. According to another
em-
bodiment, the sealing ring may also be designed such that like the relief
valve, it is
capable of releasing overpressure to the outside and the suction device or
recipro-
cating pump does not however need to be removed from the retaining receptacle.
The suction device may also feature only one piston and a piston suction tube,
wherein the piston suction tube is attached to the valve seat of the valve
body and
the bottom end of the piston is withdrawn from the piston suction tube. The
valve
on the holding body closes owing to the sudden ingress of ambient air through
the
top opening of the piston suction tube.
The device for generating the vacuum is preferably a manual, e.g. hand-
operated,
piston suction pump, featuring openings at the beginning and end of the
suction
travel.
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The piston suction pump features a piston drawbar with an integrated tension
holding device and furthermore a suction piston preferably manufactured from
elastic material such as rubber and creating a seal against the suction tube
e.g.
with sealing lips. In order also to be able to use the piston suction pump in
a verti-
cal position, the bottom opening of the suction tube may also be angularly con-
nected with the detachable coupling.
If necessary, the piston suction pump may also feature a device located
centrally
at the bottom opening, for example a spike, which prevents the valve from
being
1.0 lifted out of the contact surface by the suction effect of the piston
suction pump.
The device for generating the vacuum and the vacuum holding device are exe-
cuted in two parts.
According to a preferred embodiment, the vacuum holding device is applied to
the
contact surface and the piston suction pump is applied to the coupling surface
with
a seal located at the bottom opening under slight supportive pressure. By with-
drawing the piston rod from the suction tube, the valve is raised slightly out
of the
pretension and the still remaining atmosphere is to a great extent sucked out
of
the vacuum chamber. At the moment when the suction piston passes the top
opening, which is preferably formed by the tube open upwards in cross-section
itself, the cone/ball valve is pressed against its contact surface by the
pretention
and the now accumulated pressure difference and closes the vacuum chamber
against the external pressure. When passing the top opening, it is important
ac-
cording to this embodiment that a large volume of ambient air penetrates into
the
suction piston at one go, so that the valve of the vacuum holding device
closes as
quickly as possible as a result of the sudden pressure change.
The vacuum holding device can be easily removed again from the contact surface
by opening the valve. The valve can be opened by its being deformed or moved
by
lateral pressure, e.g. with the finger, whereby a connection between the
vacuum
chamber and the external environment is established and pressure compensation
is induced between the ambient pressure and the vacuum chamber.
-8-
The holding device serves to apply utensils such as soap dishes or
suspension hooks, preferably to walls of wet rooms, such as bathrooms,
toilets or kitchens or on glass or plastic panes. Use is not however
restricted
to the above. The prerequisite is that substrates that are impermeable to air,
such as for example, ceramic, glass, plastic or metal surfaces are available
for application.
According to a further preferred embodiment, the internal wall surfaces of the
webs facing the seal or sealing ring and/or the seal or sealing ring at the
position where the seal or sealing ring faces the webs are designed to be
adhesive. According to another embodiment, a further or several further flat
sealing ring(s) is/are inserted/introduced respectively between the internal
wall surfaces of the webs and the seal or the sealing ring, which respectively
feature adhesive surfaces. The adhesiveness is established by a
repositionable adhesive compound, particularly an essentially residue-free
and permanently removable adhesive compound, as known for example by
the name of "pressure-sensitive adhesive". The adhesive compound is for
example manufactured from polyurethane or polyacrylates, also foamed if
necessary.
The holding device preferably consists of plastic.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a vacuum holding
device for attaching objects to a gas-tight contact surface, comprising:
a holding body that forms a vacuum chamber, wherein a vacuum is
producible in the vacuum chamber following application to the contact
surface, and the holding body comprises a press-on web with a web front
edge encircling the vacuum chamber, wherein the web front edge is oriented
towards the contact surface,
at least one seal that seals the vacuum chamber towards the exterior
of the vacuum chamber in a gas-tight manner against the contact surface,
at least one opening as the end of a connection between the vacuum
chamber and an external environment having at least one valve that ensures
gas-tight opening and closing of the connection between the vacuum chamber
and the external environment,
wherein
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23
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the holding body with the press-on web, during formation of a vacuum
in the vacuum chamber, presses on the contact surface by means of the seal
provided towards the contact surface,
the seal comprises one or several U-profiles, wherein two limbs and a
foot surface linking the limbs form an U-profile and the limbs at least
partially
bilaterally encompass the respective press-on web of the holding body and
the foot surface spans the respective web front edge of the press-on web,
wherein the web front edge has a sealing effect on the foot surface of the
seal
under a vacuum in the direction of the contact surface, and
the holding body, in addition to the press-on web comprises a
downwards projecting peripheral web, the peripheral web encircles the press-
on web and a groove is formed between the press-on web and the peripheral
web, in which a limb of the seal engages.
The invention will be explained in further detail based on the drawings,
without
being limited to the latter.
Fig.1 shows a section through a holding body of a detachable holding device
according to the invention with grooves in which the webs of an elastic seal
which is U-shaped in profile in the form of a sealing ring can be inserted.
The
seal is illustrated separately in the form of a section through the U-shaped
sealing ring, wherein the limbs of the seal can be pushed into the grooves of
the holding body.
Fig.2 shows a section through a holding body according to the invention with
respectively two encircling grooves in which the limbs of two concentric
elastic
seals with a U profile can be inserted. Both seals are illustrated separately
in
the form of a section through two U-shaped sealing rings, wherein the limbs of
the seals can be pushed into the grooves of the holding body.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-06-23
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Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a suction device which is in the process of
being
mounted on a holding device, with a vent valve for venting the suction tube
during
pressure-generating downwards travel of the suction piston.
Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a suction device mounted on the holding
device,
with a vent valve for venting the suction tube during vacuum-generating
upwards
travel of the suction piston after mounting the suction piston on the holding
body.
Fig. 5 shows an enlarged sectional representation of the vent valve.
Fig. 1 shows the holding device (1) in section with a holding body (2), with
its sau-
cer-shaped base plate (3) and with a dome-like retaining receptacle (4)
protruding
centrally from the latter. The utensils can be attached to the retaining
receptacle
(4); the latter is provided with an undercut (4a) for this purpose. The
retaining re-
ceptacle (4) has an air duct (5).
A vacuum chamber (7) forms on the underside (6) of the base plate (3) when the
base plate (3) is applied to a smooth wall surface (Fig. 3 and 4) serving as a
con-
tact surface (8). A valve (9) is located in the air duct (5) of the retaining
receptacle
(4). The valve consists of an elastic material, such as rubber and has a cone
(9a)
in addition to a crossbar (9b); the valve (9) is designed such that the cone
(9a),
when air is sucked out of the vacuum chamber (7), lifts from its valve seat
(9c) and
closes down again on the seat (9c) when suction is complete. The purpose of
the
crossbar (9b) is to secure the valve (9) in the retaining receptacle (4). At
the end of
the air duct, an opening is located to which a vacuum device can be connected.
On the underside of the base plate (3) in the simple embodiment of the
invention
not illustrated in the drawing, only a downwards pointing annular press-on web
(11) is provided, on which a sealing ring (13), U-shaped in profile, with its
limbs
(15) is mounted.
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The holding device is subsequently placed against the contact surface (8) with
the
foot surface (14) of the seal, as a result of which the vacuum chamber (7)
results.
When the air is sucked out of the vacuum chamber (7), the holding device (1)
ad-
heres by suction to the wall surface (8). In so doing, the foot surface (14)
of the
sealing ring (13) is compressed and pressed down between the web front edge
(11d) and the wall surface (8). An annual seal is achieved as a result.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, protruding downwards
from
the underside (6) of the base plate (3) is a peripheral web (11c) and
surrounded by
the peripheral web (11c), initially the encircling concentric press-on web
(lib) fol-
lowed by the encircling chamber web (113), which form grooved rings (12) be-
tween each other.
The sealing ring (13) has a U-shaped profile with a foot surface (14) and two
limbs
(15). This sealing ring (13) is inserted in the direction of an arrow (16)
into the un-
derside (6) of the base plate (3), whereby the limbs (15) are pushed into the
grooved rings (12) of the holding body. A contact surface (8) of the seal (13)
is
thereby formed on the wall surface (8) underneath the foot surface (14). The
hol-
lowed out surface in the.seal between the limbs may be rectangular, wedge-
shaped or of other design, e.g. mushroom-shaped.
When air is now sucked out of the vacuum chamber (7), the holding device (2)
adheres by suction to the wall surface (8). The foot surface (14) is
compressed by
the web front edge (11d) of the contact pressure web. The other webs (chamber
web and peripheral web) do not rest on the seal and do not rest on the contact
surface in the applied state either.
Fig. 3 illustrates a variant of the embodiment according to Fig. 1, with a
saucer-
shaped base plate (3) and a dome-like retaining receptacle (4). In addition,
two
further internal concentric web rings (11') towards the centre of the holding
body
(2) are provided, between which further internal grooved rings (12') are
formed.
Corresponding to the sealing ring (13) according to Fig. 2, an elastic rubber
seal-
ing ring (13) is additionally provided and is pushed into the grooved rings
(12). Fur-
thermore, a further internal elastic rubber sealing ring (13') is present,
which corre-
sponds in shape to the sealing ring (13).
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Both these sealing rings (13 and 13') fitting concentrically into each other
are
pushed in the direction of the arrow (16) into the underside (6) of the base
plate
(3), whereby all limbs (15 and 15') of the sealing rings push into the grooved
rings
(12 and 12') of the holding body. The function is the same as in Figure 1. The
valve (9) in the retaining receptacle (4) also corresponds to that according
to Fig.
1.
Provision is made for the limbs (15) of the sealing rings (13, 13') pushed
into the
grooved rings (12, 12') to be engaged with play in the grooved rings (12, 12')
in the
1.0 unloaded state. When however the holding body (2) is applied to the
wall surface
(8) and the air is sucked out of the vacuum chamber (7), a compression effect
is
created in the rubber-like material of the limbs (15) in which the limbs (15)
thicken
such that they press from the side against the internal side walls of the webs
form-
ing the groove.
The top edge of the opening of the air duct (5) and the surrounding circular
surface
oriented parallel to the contact surface (19) form seal faces for establishing
a de-
tachable airtight coupling with a suction tube or a piston suction pump.
Fig. 3 and 4 show sectional views of the vacuum pump (20) with which the vac-
uum in the vacuum chamber (7) is generated. The pump (20) has a suction tube
(21) in which a piston (23) guided by a plunger (22) can be moved up and down.
In
both Figures 3 and 4, detachable holding devices (1) are located under the
suction
tube (21), which rest against a wall surface (8). The wall surface (8) only
runs hori-
zontally for the sake of a clearer presentation. In practice, the wall surface
(8) will
preferably run vertically.
In Fig. 3, the vacuum pump (21) is located above the holding device (1) and is
be-
ing conveyed to the latter. The vacuum pump (20) has at the bottom end (24) of
the suction tube (21) a sealing ring (25) with an aperture (26) into which the
retain-
ing receptacle (4) of the holding device (1) is suction-fitted. The vacuum
pump (20)
is applied to the retaining receptacle (4) in the direction of the arrow (20a)
in order
to generate the vacuum in the vacuum chamber (7). When the piston (23) is
drawn
up by means of the handle (27), a vacuum is created in the vacuum chamber (7)
that causes the holding device (1) to adhere to the wall surface (8). The
piston (23)
is then finally positioned at the top end (28) of the suction tube (21).
If one were now to attempt to depress the piston (23) with the holding device
(1)
attached, a build-up of air would occur in the suction tube (21). In order to
avoid
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this, a relief valve (29) is provided, illustrated in Fig. 5. This relief
valve (29) is
mounted at the bottom end (24) of the suction tube (21). It consists of a pipe
con-
necting piece (30) in which a valve seat (31) is located, against which a ball
(32) or
the like is pressed from outside by means of a compression spring (33). The
air is
able to escape through a discharge opening (34).
If an overpressure accumulates in the suction tube (21) on depressing the
piston
(23), this is able to escape through the relief valve (29). This has the
further ad-
vantage that repressurization can be performed without any need to remove the
vacuum pump (20).
According to a variant of the invention not illustrated, no relief valve (29)
is pro-
vided and the piston does not feature any stop at its top outlet. The piston
can
therefore be withdrawn from the suction tube (21).
In order to generate a vacuum, the suction tube is applied to the holding
device
with the piston rod pushed downwards and the piston rod is subsequently with-
drawn from the piston tube. The process is repeated if further vacuum is
required.
The bottom aperture (26) of the suction tube is closed by a seal in the form
of a
sealing ring (25). The top opening is formed by the suction tube (21), which
is
open upwards. The suction pump (20) furthermore features a handle (27) and a
suction piston (23), which preferably creates a seal against the suction tube
with
sealing lips. The suction piston is able to pass the top opening.
The valve (9) is raised from its valve seat (9c) in order to detach the
holding device
from the wall surface. Air thereby enters the vacuum chamber (7) and the
holding
device (1) detaches itself from the wall surface (8).
The opening with the valve seat can be closed by a cap that - e.g. by
inserting a
screwdriver head - can be levered out in an outlet or a protrusion in the cap
itself
or in the surface (12). The cap simultaneously causes the valve to be pushed
by
the internal surface of the cap cover into the contact surface (8) of the dome
creat-
ing an additional seal.
